Kidney donor's job termination to be reviewed by CPS chief

Social worker Dan Coyne risked losing job due to residency requirements, but Huberman will look at 'character and personal circumstances' of Evanston man who gave kidney to a sick cashier

June 17, 2010|By Julie Deardorff, Tribune reporter

Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman said he plans to personally review the case of Dan Coyne, the social worker who was honored as a humanitarian at a luncheon Thursday, less than a week after he was told he may lose his job.

In March, Coyne received accolades and districtwide attention after he donated a kidney to a cheerful grocery cashier whose checkout line he frequented. But on June 11, Coyne opened a letter from the Chicago Board of Education that said his job was in danger because he had violated the district's residency requirement. Coyne, who has lived in Evanston for the last 18 years, said he had not lied about his address when seeking work.

Huberman said in a statement that the action against Coyne was taken at the district level and "did not take into account Mr. Coyne's individual character and personal circumstances."

"Dan Coyne is a hero in the eyes and hearts of everyone who knows about his story and his selfless act of kindness," Huberman said. "He serves as a role model for the entire Chicago Public Schools community and beyond."

Actions regarding Coyne will be frozen until the review is complete, the statement said.

Coyne, whose mother died last week of pancreatic cancer, attended the annual luncheon for CPS social workers with his family. Myra de la Vega, the woman who received one of his kidneys, was there with her children.

Coyne said he was honored for helping students in Chicago learn about community service and think beyond themselves.

Coyne splits his time between Ray Elementary School and Pershing East Magnet School. After Pershing Principal Antonia Hill found out Coyne had become a living donor, she had Coyne speak to the students about giving in unusual ways. Teachers incorporated lessons about the body into the curriculum, and students wrote cards to sick children in La Rabida Children's Hospital. At Ray, parents and students gave blood to LifeSource in honor of Coyne's act.

After the luncheon, Coyne called the residency policy "fear-based and outdated" and said he hopes others who received residency-related termination notices will be judged on merit and not on where they live.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley "says if we get rid of the residency requirement, everyone would flee Chicago," Coyne said. "But I think Chicago is better than that and so are the people."

Since his plight was first reported in the Tribune on Wednesday, Coyne said he has received about two dozen offers for room and board in Chicago. But so far, he said, he'd like to remain in his Evanston community with his wife of 27 years, Emily. "It's been a good 27 years," he said. "I'd like 27 more."